“Jewrotica” Program Connects Jews, Judaism and Sexuality

Community Organizers – Aliza Orent of the JCC, Rabbi Rachel Kobrin of Agudas Achim, Ayo Oppenheimer of Jewrotica and Ian Spechler of YAD

Jewrotica, an organization that examines Judaism and sexuality, kicked off its official spring 2013 events and workshops with Evening of Jewrotica: Bedside Reading, with help from the Austin Jewish community – Congregation Agudas Achim being the first synagogue in North America to co-sponsor one of the organization’s events and programs.

Jewrotica, founded in Austin to explore the intersection of Judaism and sexuality through essays, literature, erotica, Torah commentary and in-person programming, offers educational workshops and edgier evening programs featuring live Jewrotica readings around the United States.

The organization also held an event in Jerusalem in January.

More than 100 people turned out to the April 23 event held at Austin’s Spiderhouse Cafe, sponsored by Young Adult Division, Jewish Community Center of Austin, Congregation Agudas Achim and Selah. The evening featured 12 essays, short stories and poetry, including two original works from Austin writers.

“Chava”, The Evening’s Dazzling Mistress of Confessions

Led by Austin-based Jewrotica founder Ayo Oppenheimer, who between sets explained Jewish concepts and framed each piece, content varied from sweet — someone who met her beshert on Birthright — to awkward — a story called “The Rabbi and The Vibrator” — to irreverent – “Behind Closed Doors with Men and Women of the Bible” — and even included Zionist reflections in a lesbian story set on Chanukah in Jerusalem.

There was something for everyone, and as Ozzy Zion Nelson, a former Hillel Jewish Campus Service Corps fellow and quizmaster at Geeks Who Drink in Austin said, “You may not tell your mom that you’re going to a live Jewrotica reading, but you will tell your friends. However, both would be jealous if they find out that they missed it.”

The event also included sexy Jewish trivia, free Jewrotica swag and plenty of anonymous audience confessions read by Chava (Brandon Poland), the evening’s mistress of confessions, in drag.

Dan Young, Selah Jewish community leader, said, “Bedside Reading with Jewrotica was funny, sexy, and hot all at once. The readings were honest about all kinds of sexuality, but the highlight of the evening was definitely the confessions, written by audience participants. Nobody knew who wrote them, and most were tell-alls that would make your bubbe blush.”

Oppenheimer explained that the organization’s live readings and workshops provide a positive, celebratory voice and a platform for Jewish sexual expression. They offer a new twist on Jewish learning and engagement while educating on sexual health, relationships and Jewish tradition. She said Jewrotica creates and contributes to a growing body of quality Jewish erotic literature.

Jewrotica Founder Ayo Oppenheimer Addresses The Audience

Erin Givarz, a University of Texas Social Work graduate student, said, “It empowers us Jews to reach inside and own our sexy selves and heritage.”

Oppenheimer explained that there tends to be a dichotomy between two types of Jewish populations: One that has absorbed the sex-negative message of a Christian diaspora, is reticent about sexuality and does not offer any education on the subject, and another that has taken on secular western culture and no longer believe that Judaism has anything to teach them about relationships or sexuality.

Jewrotica was created in order to start a conversation with both of these groups. The organization exists to bring sex to Judaism but also Judaism to sex.

Jewrotica is open to everyone. It is geared toward the Jewish community, but welcomes audiences from all backgrounds. The organization has published submissions from writers as young as 18 and as mature as 84.

The Crowd Grew to 100+ By The End of the Evening

Jewrotica’s foundational workshop, Kedoshim Tehiyu – Sex Ed 101 Jewish-Style, is for teenage through young professional audiences. The educational workshops, including Sex in the Jewish Tradition and Sex in the 21st Century – Is Judaism Still Relevant?, are appropriate for teen through adult audiences and can be tailored based on group needs. Their evenings of live Jewrotica readings tend to be a bit racier, and are best suited toward college groups and adult audiences.

For more info on events, programs, submissions, and a Jewish experience that varies from PG to XXX visit Jewrotica.org.

I’m so glad that Jewrotica is represented here at Jewlicious! It’s bringing voices that need to be heard in the Jewish discussion and Jewish climate environment.

Ramona Rubin, Grassroots Activist in Berkeley, CA

The Jewrotica event “Evening of Jewrotica: Bedside Reading” was awesome. As Master of Confessions, I got to read the deepest, darkest secrets of people in the room out loud… It was scintillating, titillating, and – yes – even educational!

Sam S., Young Professional in the Austin Area

Learning about sex and what’s right and wrong when it comes to sex from a Biblical standpoint was an eye opening experience. I completely enjoyed it and think something like this could be a very cool thing to bring to even high school aged Jewish youth groups.

Hannah S., A Student at SUNY Purchase

Jewrotica was everything I had dreamed of and more: sexy attendees, tantalizing confessions, and well-written literature to boot! More importantly, it empowers us Jews to reach inside and own our sexy selves and heritage!

Erin L., University of Texas at Austin Social Work Graduate Student

I stepped out of my comfort zone to be a part of this. I was glad to open up the topic of sexuality in my community. We are trying to build a safe space to talk about sex. The result I am most happy about coming from this event is that hopefully now my friends know they can come and talk to me, that I can be their ‘safe space’.

Barnard College Student, Presenter at the Columbia University Kickoff Event

Jewrotica is awesome. It expands the mind and for people who were raised with narrow views on sexuality. Whether you are Jewish or not, or in different sects of Judaism like Orthodox, Conservative or Reform, no matter what your background or where you’re from, Jewrotica gets you to see Judaism and how it relates to sexuality in new ways. I really appreciate Ayo being here and helping us learn different ways to connect with our sexuality.

Vanessa Steiner, Young Professional in Southern California

I had a great time deejaying at the Jewrotica event at Columbia University. The live readings were hilarious, informative, and in some cases, deeply moving. I know that I, along with many of my AEPi fraternity brothers, loved being able to connect our Judaism and our sexuality in a way that made all of us feel comfortable and welcome. I look forward to being a part of this again in the future!

Michael Richmond, Columbia University Class of ’13

What an incredible night Jewrotica was!!!! There was this fantastic moment, in a sea of Jews of all sexualities, ages, backgrounds and denominations, that I realized we were all in this together! I hope that there are many more events coming to Austin soon!

Brandon Poland, Award-Winning Jewish Drag Queen

Jewrotica is something that the community has needed for a long time so that people can actually learn, express and share and have good relationships without having to stumble through life. Check out the site and learn something. Have fun!